Impact of a Peer Public Health Education Programme on Adolescent Students’ Knowledge of HIV/AIDS and Attitude Towards People Living with HIV/AIDS in Abia State, South East Nigeria

Abstract

Background

The scourge of HIV/AIDS remains one of the contemporary challenges facing Nigeria and numerous other sub-Saharan countries. We assessed the impact of a peer public health education programme on adolescent students’ knowledge of HIV/AIDS and attitude towards People Living with HIV/AIDS in Abia State, South East Nigeria.

Materials and Methods

In a quasi-experiment adopting pretest and posttest comparison group, a total number of 156 (74 male and 82 female) Junior Secondary School Students three (JSS3) participated. Data collection was done using self-structured HIV/AIDS Knowledge Test (HAKT) and HIV/AIDS Attitude Scale (HAAS). Mean, standard deviation and analysis of covariance were used for analyses.

Results

The findings reveal that the adolescent students who were given the peer education training attained higher knowledge of HIV/AIDS and also showed greater positive attitude towards people living with HIV/AIDS.

Conclusion

This research proves that peer education training is evidenced in attaining higher knowledge of HIV/AIDS and in showing greater positive attitude towards people living with HIV/AIDS. However, peer education training should be adopted as one of the teaching modes in schools, which will enhance good HIV/AIDS knowledge and positive attitudinal disposition towards people living with HIV/AIDS.

Keywords: Peer public health education, HIV/AIDS, People living with HIV/AIDS, Adolescents, Knowledge, Attitude

DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/93-06

Publication date:September 30^th 2021